Ministers at odds over drugs policy
Government policy on its approach to the drug cannabis seems to be in some disarray on the eve of the publication of a Hot Press interview with Minister Owen Ryan.
The Minister with responsibility for drugs, Mr Ryan, said he does not regard cannabis as a gateway drug, which puts him at odds with Justice Minister John O'Donoghue.
Mr Ryan is the Government's man trying to tackle drug addiction by social intervention.
In his interview he said he doesn't see cannabis as a gateway drug leading onto harder drugs.
"I just don't believe that has been proven," he said.
Asked if there is a difference between soft and hard drugs, he said there is, but added that the jury is out on cannabis.
"Some people say it should be legalised," he said, "but there is very little decent research in it."
His words put him at odds with Justice Minister John O'Donoghue, whose zero tolerance policies include prosecuting for the possession of cannabis.
Last year, Mr O'Donoghue said there will be no watering down of the distinction between soft and hard drugs.
But Minister Ryan argues that heroin should be the main target.
"Some people," he said, "say we are wasting our time going after people with cannabis."
